How much do Politicians make?

Politics is all we have been hearing on the news recently. I started thinking how much do these people make? They are public service they can’t be making that much! Was I ever wrong. They make some serious coin and are good at spending it as well. Here is what our United States Politicians and Government officials make annually.

Judge of the Supreme Court:
They are paid between $208,100 and $217,400 per year.

United States House of Representatives:
Each Representative make $174,000. The Speaker of the House makes $223,500 and $193,400 for party leaders.

United State Senators:
Each Senator makes $174,000 per year. The party leaders earn $193,400.

Vice President of the United States:They make $227,300.

President of the United States:
They make a annual salary of $400,000 plus $50,000 expense account. They also get $100,000 travel account.

They are not hurting for money at all. They make plenty more than the national average.

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22 responses to this post.

I think I’m the most suprised by how much a House of Representative member makes. That’s a lot of money if you ask me. They’re making good money from our tax dollars and we need to make sure that we vote for the people who will best represent us.

The lowest paid politician in the federal government makes over three times the income of the average worker in the United States. These politicians are supposed to work for us. Does it bother anyone else that they take money from our paycheck to pay themselves three times more than the average worker????? Since when does someone make MORE than the person they are supposed to work for???!!!???

Politicians & CEO’s are nothing but “Legalized Mafia”. How can anyone in their right mind not think this is robbery……there is nothing we can do. If we would ever get someone in office that would try to do something – they would have them shot – no doubt. The only recourse is Civil War – then there is no winners in that either.

They have proposed that all employees of the federal government take a pay freeze for 2 years and are even proposing that there be a pay cut of 10% (mostly union workers). They have not advocated that elected officials(themselves) appointees (ie. Judges) or contractors (ie. Halliburton etc.) take any cuts. I think it is because they work so many days per year( 120 at most for “the 535″) members of Congress.

So true,these officials need to lead by example if they want to balance the budget. If you are asking our teachers, police and firemen take a cut in wages and pay for their insurance. How about the elected officials do the same!!!

The difference is that those jobs are not funded by the collective wealth of the citizens of this government. That’s not to say that some of those salaries aren’t ridiculous, just that they don’t matter nearly enough. With a runaway federal budget, a weak economy, and very little good news on the horizon, it seems like a sensible place to trim a little. It might be a drop in the bucket, but lots of drops add up, and it would at least be a good symbolic show of solidarity.

I work for the state of Alabama as a secretary/receptionist/everything else and do not make a living wage. I live an hour away and the price of gasoline and other rising expenses give me pause to think if I will be able to continue. Big businesses have been allowed to use our citizens for years. If we do not want to play their game then they will take the game somewhere else. I cannot see that our politicians on either side are doing much to help the average working citizen. How is it that they can vote their own pay raise. I have to have an annual appraisal, which is not usually a true reflection of my performance, but regardless the best that I can hope for is a 3% pay raise per year. For the past three years and probably the next three years there are no raises due to proration. I believe that we should change the rate of pay for all Congressmen and Senators. They should have appraisals just as most of us do and if they are not performing, no raise or maybe 1, 2 or 3%. This process should be repeated for each incoming Congressman or Senator until they leave office. Just for the record, I am not saying that their expenses should not be covered for the functions that they must attend on our behalf… but no trips where they spend 30 minutes doing business and a week or two on the beach. This is taking advantage of hard working people who can’t vote their own raise.

It is obvious that we need to strike a balance. Pay enough to prevent the temptation of corruption, but set strict limits for a person elected or appointed to an office. No one should serve long enough to retire from office. There is no wonder that our country is in such trouble.

I think politicians should make the average, or median wage (whichever is higher) of the people in their voting group. Maybe that would be good incentive to create jobs, and encourage fair wages. It would also discourage greedy, money hungry people from running. Maybe we would end up with people who actually care about their jobs and want to make a difference.

In my opinion the way to fix the government debt is for all politicians to take a pay cut. The money they would be cut per year could go towards the debt this country owes! We are a family of 5 and make only 25,000-30,000 per year (and that’s a high estimate) and we still manage to make it. Yes, there are things we have to go without but maybe if politicians had to live like us, they would understand how hard it really is in this country!

all you people think gov can make jobs. they can not. alls they can do is give tax breaks do not be stupit. smartin up. get real, and use some cominsence the gov does not have any. they go after big companys like the oil,lowies, home depot,etc.. all the company does is raise the price you pay. and they still make a lot of profit. Get real if you are in any gov job you should not make more then 52,000 year no matter what you do.if you can not live of that somethings wrong. they cut all kinds of stuff,but not what they make a year.

why do we the people tolerate these career parasites. they sqwander the taxes that are robbed from us by force if need b, on bullshit wars they claim are in defense of our freedom that in actuality only they can truely threaten. they need 2 b forced 2 live on a minimum wage, and allowed only 2 serve a term of office as originally defined by the founders, no more career politicians, they need 2 b held accountable 4 everything they do and have done, revolution anyone? im ready, ive had enough of their bs and so has everyone i know.

Hey Richard, I think all the time abou what We The People ought to do and how we should take a stand and come together and Make these politicians do what we put them in office to do. This has gone on way to long and We The People and our families are the ones that suffer, and they could care less. I am a resident of Memphis, TN. I would work with anyone who is passionate about change for all citizens of this country.

its way past the time 2 take back the power they have been entrusted with, its obvious they dont represent the majority of americans, they havent for decades, and it will only get worse. when the people fear the government you have tyranny, when those in government fear the people you have liberty. only an idiot could honestly believe that they are even remotely free. wake up sheeple…..

The reason politicans get so much is we are the sheep in this country. We follow what ever we are told. We need to wake up and take our country back. I used to be proud of being an American now I’m not so sure. What will it take? I have worked over 50 years just got laid off not due to performance but greed.. No saftey net for me no pension or health benifits.. After four years of working as a senator or congressman they seem to get it all. I wish Thomas Jefferson was still around saying the goverment need to be overthrown every 25 years to keep it working like it should. Throw the bums out !

I totally agree with all of you. Two term limits and no retirement package let them do the 401K like everyone else. Stop paying for their health bennies and let them do the Obama care like the rest of us. They do not like the Idea of raising the minimum wage so let them earn it and find out how tough it is.